Speed control for self-propelled vehicles.



- W. J. PERKINS. v SPEED CONTROL FOR SELF 'PROPELLED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1911.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. PERKUJS; TROL FOR SELF PROPELLED V APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1911.

SPEED CON EEIGLBS.

Patented Jan.6,'1914.

LQE JFQl '3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a'nucntoz dun" i W. J. PERKINS. SPEED CONTROL FOR SELF BROPELLED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1911.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914,v

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I nuanl'oi,

witnesses Teal-z who; m amm- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Y newaa; e K s .-.I 5 m t gaiimnonroni ssLr-rrtorn'LLEn vnnrcnnfs.

Specification Letters I'atent.

ented Jan-6, 1914 a nmi gsnunma. 1911. Serial No. 638,206."

. tion line 3,-3 of Fig. I th parts'being in knownthatI,;W1mas J. PERKINS, a broken section. Fig. IV isa detail sectional citizen of I the.-Unitedv States, residing at view takenon 'a'l-ine corresponding to line Grand' Rapids,Michiganyhave invented oer 4-4 of Fig. III, showing the gear connectainlmwand usefullmprovements in Speed tions to the front wheel and the bevelgears Control for Self 1?ropelled Vehicles, of for driving my improved speed control and i which thefollovving is a specification. the manner of connection to the knuckles.

Thisinvention reiates to improvements in Fig. V is an enlarged detail sectional view speed control'for ropelled'vehicles. taken. on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of1 0 @Theobjects oifthe invention are, First, to Figs. 1 and'VI, through the centrifugal govprovide a simple and effective devicereguernor and the control valve for throttling lated by: thespeed of thevehicle for controlthe engine, and the means to adjust the same. ling the motivepovver and t; e consequent Fig. VIis a detail sectional view takenon a' speed of-the vehicle. Second,-to provide line corresponding to. line 66.ofFig. V, 70,

such a device which is especially adapted to through the balanced valve and the valve apply. tothe driven Wheel and steering casing and connected parts. Fig. VII is an knuckle of an automobile' or power propelled enlarged detail sectional view taken on a vehicle. Third, 'to provide such a device line corresponding to line 77 ofF-ig. I,

" vvitha locking dialy andmeans so that the showing the details of connection for ad- 75 same may be readily adjusted and controlled, jus'ting the valve and the governor means,

' and of such .aJcharacter that it maybe 10- portions being shown in .full lines. Figs. cate d sothat thedia'l may be in any desired VIII and IX show the relation oft-he-ports [position and be observed either from the "of the valve and the valve casing wherebyfront 'or rear seator elsewhere, as the ease the gradual and regular control'of the throto v may be- Fourth, to provide improved contle is secured by the governor. Fig. X is a nections with a diai finger for'efl'ectively ad detail transverse sectionalview taken on a justing governor operated'by a vehicle line corresponding to line-101O of Fig.

Wheel. I i .VIII, showing the casing of the shaft Gland ,Further-objects and objectspertaining to method of sealing the same. Fig. XI is a .55

detailsand economies" of construction will detail trzmsverse sectional view taken on a definitely appear. from the detailed de'scripline corresponding to line 1l-1l of Fig. I, tion to f o'llovvQ I I 1 showing the casing of the'shaft -orrod 14 I accomplish the objects of my invention andmethod of sealing the same. Fig. XII

' by thedevices and means described in, the is a detail sectional view similar to that of 90 following"spe :ification. I 'FigJV, of a modification of the regulating" The invention is ,clearly defined andpointmeans, in which the adjusting feature is ed out in the claims. i omitted. Fig. XIII is a detail sectional -A'n1echanism constituting an effective and view taken on a linecorresponding to line preferred embodiment of the features of my 13-13 of Fig. XIV, showing a modification 95 40 inventionv is fully illustrated in the accomof, the dial and control mechanism. Fig.

p j drawing, forming a 'partof this XIV is a plan view of amodification of the specification. inavhich: dial'such as is illustrated in'FigII.

I Figure Isis a plan viewof my improved In the drawing the sectional viewsare speed control device as applied. to an autotaken looking in the direction of.-the little 100 mobile, I the gear framework, engine and arrows .at-the ends of the section lines and other parts of the automobile necessary tosimilar numerals of reference referto simi-' understand my invention beingindicated dia-' la'r parts thriiughout the several views. grammatically. FIl is an enlarged'front As the contrcland operation of a throttle elevationvi'evvof the dial and'lockin'g rhechgoverning valve is the main object of this 105' anisin on the dash board of an automobile, a" structure, in referring tQ the description I part ,of the dash being broken away andthe [will make that the beginning of the descrip- Y rack and pinion parts being in section. Fig. t-ion. x i l, l a 7 III is an" enlarge'd'detail sectional view 'Reif'errlng to the mmberetl' parts of the through'the gear and driving connections drawing, the throttling governor valve 1 is 1 and through theimeclia'nism attached to the .Z

a hollowcylindrical balanced valve, and is f" steering l nirclde, t-aken on jtheirregular sec- 1 adj ustable and controllable'within' the cy lindrical valve casing 2. A boss 3 is on this casing, to which is connected the supply pipe or manifold 10 of the engine 11. The valve casing is made in halves which are secured together by bolts or screws -l.

A supply passage 5 isiconnec'ted to the pipe 6 which leads thereto from the carburetor 7, illustrated in Fig. I. The port 8 in the valve and the port 9 with which the same registers are of any suitable form preferably so that the opening and closing of the ports through valve control of sanie regulates the charge admission in such mannor as to secure smooth vehicle motion. The port '9 opens intochamber 9 leadingto the engine 11, through the pipe 10. J

A spring 12 rests against the adjustable head 13 and urges the valve 1 against the governorstein 19 with yielding pressure; The adjustable head 1-3 is connected to the tubular piston rod 14. by belt or valve stem 74, and is adjustable within the cylindrical slide way15 whereby the tension on the spring l2'can be varied at the will of the operator, and the action of the governor be regulated. The outer end of the slideway 15 has an inwardly projecting annular-- shoulder or stop member 15 which cooperates with the head 13 and locates the.

valve 1 in its closed position. These parts are connected to take this pos1t1on when the Pointer is at dead on the dial.

The slideway 15 is retained. in place bya suitable screw thread on the valve casing, and a seal 18 is put upon the saine by having a cable'17threaded through registering holes 16 between :the parts thus joined, as clearly appears in Fig." V. This makes it impossible to open the device to tamper with it after it has been properly adjusted.

v 'A governor stein19 is suitably guided in the governor case29, and-is suitably supported at 20 inthe shaft 20, and'is disposed to rest against. the thrustball bearing plate 21 on the end of the valve 1, whereby when the governor operates it forces the valve against the compression of the spr1ng'12.

--The governor is a centrifugal acting governor and may be of any effective form. Each weight 22'22 is pivoteu on the head 24: at 2323, having inwardly projecting fingers 25 which. engage in a grooved collar 26 thereon, so that as the device is speeded up the governor weights are thrown out- 'Wardly and exert acontrol upon the balanced valve 1 by their action on the gov ernor stein. Stop fingers 27 are on the weights, which coact with corres iioiniling stop members 28 on the head. 2 1. I

The governor case 29 is extended into a suitable sleeve 29 in which is journaled the s'fsupportcd, 111

shaft- E20; The sleeveflll i k vokeSO. in which yoke t 1e slia'ftB-l also iournaled. as will be clearly seen by an eximinnm l igs. i, 111 and v.

by the arm 39 of the A bevel gear 31 is on the shaft '20 and meshes with the bevel gear 32 on the shaft The shaft 33 is the driving shaft and the shaft 20 is the driven shaft of-this pair of shafts. An oil tight protecting casing 34 embraces thesebevel gears 31 and 32, so that they may run in oil, and the parts are protected by seal 34.

The shaft 35 is connected at both ends b universal joints 36','at one end to the shafl 33 and at the opposite end to shaft 38.- It has a slip connection 35 at one end, as is clearly seen in Fig. III. The end of the shaft 35 is slotted longitudinally with a slot like key way and is engaged by a fin screw or pin in the coupling 35. Any sliding joint locked against rotation ma be em iiloyed. On the outer end of the sliaft 38 is a bevel gear 37'. The shaft 38'is supported naled therein.

' A tubular casing 41 is secured'and sealed by seal 55, arranged through ear 41 there of, to the arm '39 and embraces and seals the universal .joint 36 of the shaft 35, and

is free to slip back and forth over a suitable head 13 to accommodate the shifting and changing lengths of the said shaft. The

vsame may be of such structure that it will retainthe necessary lubricant-inside and it bracket 40, being jour prevents their 46. The pinion 46 is driven by the spur gear 49 which is secured to the front Wheel 50,

and by this 'means the bevel ear 45 isdriven. A. seal 50" ison the hu ,cap.

The upwardly projecting arm 48 contains the journal bearings for the shaft li' and also is extended and carries thevertical pin let for the pinion bevel gear lal and constitutes"a yoke-for these parts. knuckleSQ is pivoted on the vertical pin 51 and Tihe bracket i0 is pivoted on this pin 51.

ii. nrigdectiiig shield or cap 54. is placed over ran be loosened and all moving parts are incised. It will be seen also that the governor 'l erablv driven from one of the driven f' the motor vehicle. and consei will hri'rgulated by the rule ol trawl inert-cl. as distinguished from the revolution per minute of the moto A steering is disposed between the forks, 53 of axle which rei lotions of" the mam I will Yary to f i hiel e speed and: when the sh i lted o the hig'li- Speed of the slid ri'tnsnns V 4 v the p iwei of the; motor will be very greatly our"; iled 'f the revolutions per min- U e-bf e redueed bytlhe engine g'oyernor eontrol so. as to secure predeten 9L mine rehiele speed regulation. "Also, in the d '5" gonneet the speed control device ewheeh"My-':tleriee will do the work ntorefefiecti tely onwany wheel thatdoes not sli -.o1 -i t.he road; 1

gtywill bevqseen that the v'ehiele speed is under 1 eoigitrol ,7 by: varying the pressure or iriing'dl, ivhu-h is done by adjust-met e' sin'iple. (.)u an 'ext'ension'of nates iu or earri'es a hand or 'poi1it er or inwi'hii' li' swings over av dial titi to s position and the desired speed limit at \vliieh tl'iemaeliine is'set. flimspeed limit toreaeh tioiiit marked is iudi'aited by suital'ile'munei'alsor iiiarkings. as appears in Fig. ll. Any suitable markings or dial may ht--usm1=.-

= i Xotehes-Tt are in segment- Tl' and a'loel:

it i'hi'tlih nun-flit a Yaleor of anv suitable "he*poi iiter eoii'perates with the it it tell i i *so thatfthelinger. or'pointer 56 eanbe lo'elced :it 'aii 'v desiret'l position and in ahsol'uteli"'eontrol the l'iinit'ot' the ratei il ti'ziit l ottliei iaeliine. The dial. is within fraii'ie. (;h, v tfd o h" being shown'll and. 1s 'lieloek T3 so'that a double 'loek is or the p'roteti'ou of .the adjustflilv. this device it, will lie'seen peedjli'|ii'itot':t l.ie niael iine mai he in meat that the s under thefeonti'ol of two persons. it'that be- (hie person; may have a key tor rsiite l.

sion" em'gilt yexit in' a, motor I sl.ipl' iiig'ofia. drivt wheel, the. saute disadvantage follows. I, ther*fore,'

i en-gavlieelwas distinguished". from a,

" ,the. piston rod 14 The means for stonxrodill .is alloop tit) eontaining a 'it' by snitable'holes T8.

The dial til is slottedand made adjustable in relationto'the segment- 7tf so that. it can .be set with aeeuraey; [also provide a iiote'h 1n the; dad at; the dead point I softlu'it. the maeh'ine an be locked up a-nd'lts use entirely prevented by v an 'una iithori zed person. Also.

by this device, the owner ean,.\\-"hile in the ear, control the. speed of his ear or ship same, and insure obedienee-to instructions by the driver. Y

" [In this con'neetion I might. say that the 7 piston rodli is niiuleQhollow tor the purpose of insert-mg telescop ng or sliding screw rod or Valvestem Tet, which is shouldered at.

and is sta'ewed into the valve 1 as 'elearlv appears in Fig V. i'ilso the valve 1 is prerented,- from rotation by the, serew threaded iin 77 \vhieh enters into longitiu'linal slot- 76 n the periphery of the valve, 'here it is-nota desired to vary the speed and seenre controllable adjustment for various vehiele speeds, the dialmechanism may be. omitted and all eonneetions therefor, in \vhieh event the tension of the. spring 12 may-he determined so as'to seeure the. pre-, determined maximum vehicle speed. and be sealed in=plaeel This predetermined maxi mum speed-ean(thereafter only be altered by breaking the: seals and substituting an- .and the valve stem will simply play treelv in a suitable soekel provided thereto). or

the valve stem itself audits guiding so'eketz' ma) be omitted. as the parts under sueh eirenmstanees will not need to be speeiall guided. I

..l desire also to state that. to Completely balanee ,tlie valve 1. l perforate the head of I By-this means the, valve is eompletetv halaneed at all times whether there is pressure or suetiom d Vhilein Figs; II and VIII I have shown the preferred arrangement of dials. I desire to state that. a small dial (on lit-assoeiated With t-he shaft- (it. thus omitting many parts; in ivhieh event the dial may be aeomplete eirele', as 69 (see Fig. XiY). All

other parts of the mechanism are identical ivith the-dial meeh'anisui illustrated in l igi VII: and are oorrespondiuglynumbered. and consequently will not require further description. This eonstriletion (lli "nat'es many parts, with a eorres 'iondin}; saving. in

cost. v The operation of: my speed eont-rol 1neelia-' inisni will be very clear from an inspeetion of the same. and I believe will not need to be gt'ine'intoin detail.

'lhe-adjl'istme-nt of the pointer on the dial tl'irough its connections regulates the pressure on the spring 12, eoiiseq'uentlv varies the resistanceof the gorernor. and because the governoris driven fron'roneoftl e 'a r- 30.

to maintain vehicle speed:. It is thus seen that-when this improved rying .wheels, the speed ,of the vehicle is under complete 'control.

interfering with the fullpower of the en.- glne or. motive power, .ifrsame 'isrequired vehicle speed control is used on any type of motoridriven vehicle, where a variable predetermined and adjustable lock .speed is desired or required, whether the same iscontrolled speed law, public safety, timid lty, convenience or inexperience of owner, passenger or driver, for commercial purposes or vehicle or road conditions, or other reasons, any speed within the power of the motor and adjustment provided is instantly secured and fixed by any person provided with the key or combination of lockable adusting means;

' I have shown the mechanismcin aform I preferred by me which I have been at great pains and eXpen'seto develop. However, I

know from experience that the same can be parting from my invention. I find the shaft very greatly variedin details without deand universal joints and slip joints very desirable inthis connection, as they permit--freedom of movement of the body on the running gear, yet; I 'am aware that other flexible connections mightbe provided for In some structures and for 'a throttle to control the charge supply of an explosion'engine, and find that especially valuable and desirable by way-of accom-v Iplishing: the desired result. However, this control means is adapted to control any sort of motor and may control it in many differ: ent ways, which ways are so numerous that A I'donot attempt to describe and illustrate thesame, I, however, desire to claim tne structure specifically as I have produced it,

and also broadly a" I have indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus dose 1bed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a speed control device for power driven vehicles, the combination with a carrying wheel, a gear carried thereby, a suitable weight got nection from the said gear to the said weight governor, a-tlirottle valve. disposed to be acted upon by the said governor. a spring for holding the. said throttle valve yieldingly against a movable part of the governor and controljlcd tlhereby, means to adjust the ten- This is accom-- plished wlthout in any way hampering or ernor, a protected con-- cater a key suitable weight governor, a protected" connection from the said gear to the saidweight governor, a throttle valve disposed to be acted u on, by the said governor, a spring for ho ding the said'throttle valve yieldingly against a movable part of the governor and controlled thereby, means to adjust the tension of said spring, a dial, an indicator arm for said dial,-.with connection to said tension means for ad'usting the sameby movement of the said in icator arm, and p a key con*elled lock for locking the said indicator to thesaid dial at any required position, coacting substantially as described and for the purpose specified. v 3. In a speed control device for power driven vehicles, the combination with a carrying wheel, a 'gear'carried thereby, asuitable weight governor, a rotected connection from the said gear to t e said weight governor, a throttle valve disposed to-be acted u on by the said governor, a spring for holding the said throttle valve yieldmgly against a movable part of the overnor and controlled thereby, means to a just the tension of said spring, a dial, and an indicator arm for said dial, with connection to said tension means for adjusting'the same by the movement. of the said indicator arm, coact' ing substantially as described and for the purpose specified. 1 I

4. In a speed control device for power driven vehicles, the combination with -a carrying wheel, agear carried thereby, a suitable=weight governor, a rotected connection from thesaid gear to tie saigi weight governor, a throttlev valve disposed to-be act-f ed upon-by the said governor, a sprin for holding the said throttle valve yielchngly against a movable part of they governor and controlled thereby; means toadjust the tension of saidspring, a dial, and an indicator for said dial, with connection to said tension means for adj ustin the same by the movement of the said indicator, coact-ing substantially as described; mind for the purpose specified.--

5. In a speed control device for power driven vehicles, the combination with a carrying wheel, a gear carriedthereby. a suitable weight governor, a protected connection from the said gear tov the said weight governor, a throttle valve'disposed to bcact ed upon by the said governona spring for holding the said. throttle valve yieldingly against a movable part of the governor and controlled thereby, means'to adjust the ten"- sion of said spring, means forsealing said parts, a dial, an indicator arm for said 'dial,

with connection to said tension-means for adjusting the same by the movement of the said indicator arm, a key controlled lock for locking thesaid indicator-to. the. said dial at any required position, and a casing With suitable 'key controlled lock for said dial, coacting substantially as described and for the purpose specified. i

6. In a speed control device for power driven vehicles the comblnatlcn with a carrying Wheel, a gear carried thereby, a suitable weight governor, a protected connection from the said gear to the said weight governor, a throttle valve disposed to be acted upon by the said governor, a spring for holding the said throttle valve yieldingly against a movablepart of the governor and controlled thereby, means to adjust the ten sion of said spring,'means for sealing said parts,.a dial, an indicator armfor said dial, with connection to said tension means. for

adjusting th i Same by-the'movenient of. the

. said indicator arm, and a key controlled lock for locking the said indicator to the said dial at any required position, co'acting substantially as describedand for the purpose 7.- In'a speed control device for power driven vehicles, the combination with acarryi" g wheel, a .gear carried thereby, a

suitabie Weight governor, afprotected. connection fromthe sald gear to the-said Weight-1 governor, a. throttle valve. disposed to be acted upon by'vthe said governor, a-spring for holding the said. throttlejvalve yieldk ingly against a movable partofthe gover- I nor and; controlled thereby, means to adjust the tension of saidsprin'g,-means for sealing said parts, a'dial, and an nrdicatorarm for said dial, with connection to said tension 1neans for adjusting the same byfthe moveinent of the said-indicator arm, coacting sub} 'stant-i'ally as described and for the purpose specified;

.8; In aspeed control device for power driven vehicles, the combination with a carrying wheel, a gear carried. thereby, a

suitable weightgovernor, a protected connesses,

Weight governor, a throttlevalve disposed to Sion of said spring, means tor-sealing said parts, a dial, and an ilidlCfltOl' for said diai,

adjusting the same by the movement of the scribed and for the purpose. specified.

' 9. In a speed control means for power 'driven vehicles, the combination with one of the carrying wheels,.of a gearcarried thereby, a governor suitably connectedto be drivenfrom said gear, athrottle valveoperated by the said governor, tension devices for regulating the. action of said governor, :an indicator connected to said "tension de- 10. In a speed control neans for power driven vehicles, thecombination with one of the carrying Wheels, of a gear carried operated by said governor. tension devices for regulating the actionof said governor, a "casing means e-mbracmg the same, an'lndial to which said indicator may be key TAYLOR.

nection from the said. gear to the be acted upon by the said governor, a spring. for holding the said throttle valve yieldingly agalnst a movable part of the governorand. controlled thereby, means to adjust the tenjwith connection to s'aidtension means forv .said indicatoncoacting substantially as de vice, and a dia lto which said indicator may. be key locked, coacting tor the purpose thereby, a governor suitably "connected tobe driven from said gear, a throttle valve- -loc-ked, and a key controlled locked casingfor said dial, coactingfor the purpose driven vehicles, the combination ivith one.

'85 dicator connected 'to said tensiondcvice. a. 

